Netanyahu avoids Europe fearing arrest amid potential ICC warrant

By Al Mayadeen English
10 Jul 2024 20:47
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Benjamin Netanyahu cancels trips to Hungary and the Czech Republic fearing an arrest in Europe if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a Cabinet meeting at the Bible Lands Museum in al-Quds on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (AP)

The Israeli Kan Broadcasting Corporation revealed on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a trip he had scheduled to the Czech Republic and Hungary, en route to the United States for a speech before Congress, fearing his arrest amid a potential decision for an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to reports, Netanyahu had contemplated visiting both countries before landing in the United States due to the unavailability of a direct flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

However, instead of taking a ground stop at either airport, Netanyahu will be traveling on a public airliner heading to Washington directly.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, was seeking arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammad Deif, prompting fierce responses from "Israel" and its allies.

Earlier in July, "Israel" requested 25 countries to provide an opinion against Khan's request to issue arrest warrants against Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, according to a report published by Walla.

The site explained that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz sent letters to 25 foreign ministers around the world, asking them to "join Britain in submitting a legal opinion to the International Criminal Court in The Hague against the Prosecutor General's request to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant."

Walla also quoted senior officials in the Israeli occupation's ministry as saying that "if these countries, or even some of them, send such a legal opinion to the court in The Hague, the judges may be convinced that there is no chance of responding to the Prosecutor General's request."